1804 Crosslet 4, No Stems

Key 1804 diagnostics: Crosslet 4 vs Plain 4 in the date, and Stems vs No Stems on the reverse wreath.

The 1804 half cent was struck in enormous quantity for the denomination: 1,055,312 coins, a figure that dwarfs every previous year and most subsequent ones. The Mint had finally secured a reliable copper supply, and the presses ran steadily throughout the year. The result is the most common Draped Bust half cent date, and the varieties that emerged from that extended production run have given specialists plenty to catalog.

The "Crosslet 4" refers to the style of the numeral 4 in the date. On these dies, the horizontal bar of the 4 extends slightly beyond the vertical stroke on both sides, creating small serifs or "crosslets" at the endpoints. The distinction from the "Plain 4," where the horizontal bar ends cleanly without serifs, is a detail of the specific digit punch the engraver selected when laying out the date. Different punches were available at the Mint, and the choice between them was likely a matter of which punch was at hand, not a deliberate design decision.

The "No Stems" component of the variety name describes the reverse: the wreath is shown without visible stems at the base where the two branches meet. On "Stems" varieties, short lines representing the cut ends of the branches are visible beneath the bow tying the wreath together. The presence or absence of stems is a die-specific feature, not a wear indicator, and it is usually identifiable even on moderately worn coins.

The Crosslet 4 No Stems 1804 is one of several die combinations from this productive year. With over a million coins struck, examples are available across a wide grade range, and the 1804 date generally offers some of the most affordable entry points in the Draped Bust series. A collector looking for a type coin, a single example representing the Draped Bust design, could do worse than an 1804 in original Fine condition.